The study looked at both the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines, and found that both sets of guidelines came up short in predicting SCD. In particular, the study found that patients who had previously undergone myectomy had a reduced risk of SCD that is not accounted for in existing risk models.

Conversely, the study found that patients with atrial fibrillation had a higher risk of SCD, which is also not reflected in the existing risk models.

A companion editorial by Dr. Harzell Schaff of the Mayo Clinic explains the likely reasons for the myectomy findings, while a second accompanying editorial by Dr. John Jefferies of Cincinnatti Children’s Hospital (who has recently accepted an appointment at the U. of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis) maintains that the ESC and ACC/AHA guidelines should be changed to reflect the lower SCD risk following myectomy.

Click here for previous coverage of the ESC and ACC/AHA guidelines. If you would like to try out the ESC Risk Calculator for yourself, click here.

What is HCM?

HCM is a very common condition, and may affect as many as 1 in 200 people. However, many do not know that they have the disease and are often undiagnosed or have instead been misdiagnosed with other conditions.

The scariest thing about HCM, and the most sensational, is that HCM can sometimes cause sudden death, and this can occur without obvious symptoms beforehand.

Luckily, recent research has shown that with the right treatment, and thanks to modern medical advances, the scariest and worst scenario is not likely, and that most HCM patients will live normal life spans with few disabilities.